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Austin360 On The Record: Bright Light Social Hour, Jerry David DeCicca, more

Jerry David DeCicca with keyboardist Eve Searls and guitarist Don Cento at Beerland in February 2018. DeCicca celebrates the release of his new disc “Burning Daylight” at Beerland on Saturday, September 29. Peter Blackstock/American-Statesman

OUT THIS WEEK

Jerry David DeCicca, “Burning Daylight” (Super Secret). The second full-length release this year from DeCicca, a Hill Country transplant from Ohio, is more in the vein of rootsy Americana than February’s comparatively minimalist “Time the Teacher.” Recorded at renowned West Texas studio Sonic Ranch with co-producer Joe Trevino, the record benefits from the tasteful and vibrant guitar work of Don Cento and Tyler Evans, plus tight rhythms from drummer Gary Mallaber and bassist Canaan Faulkner. Perhaps most significant among his backing crew is keyboardist Eve Searls, who contributes backing vocals and steps out for a sublime duet on the title track. It’s the most immediately infectious tune on the record and also the most Central-Texas-centric, with references to the Hill Country towns of Johnson City and Blanco and Highway 281. Release show Sept. 29 at Beerland. Here’s the track “Cutting Down the Country”:

Autumn Fakes, “A Sequence of Cheers for Cause and Effect.” Guitarist Jennings Crawford has a long history on the Austin indie scene, most notably as frontman for punk-pop band the Wannabes, but it’s his wife, Mikki Gibson, who’s out front here. Gibson favors concise songwriting; only the dreamy “Echo” exceeds four minutes, and nine of the 12 tracks are under three minutes. The musical structures almost always reach beyond simple chord patterns, and if that means they don’t often sink in immediately, they reward repeated listens. Release show Sept. 29 at Knomad Bar. Here’s the opening track, “Beam”:

Bright Light Social Hour, “Missing Something” EP (Modern Outsider). Part of what the accomplished psych-rock quartet was missing as they made this record was bassist-vocalist Jackie O’Brien’s brother Alex, the group’s longtime manager, who took his own life in 2015. The pathos is ingrained in the short but deeply affecting title track, which swirls with a darkness that makes the loss plain. The other four tunes are generally more upbeat, with grooves that sometimes veer toward dance-floor material. Playing Sept. 30 at Cheer Up Charlie’s. Here’s the video for the track “Trip With Lola”:

Nobody’s Girl, “Waterline” EP (Lucky Hound). The debut from the trio of singer-songwriters Betty Soo, Grace Pettis and Rebecca Loebe supplements original tunes with fellow Austin singer-songwriter Raina Rose’s “Bluebonnets” and a cover of Blondie’s “Call Me.” Recording with renowned producer/keyboardist Michael Ramos, they worked with a major-league backing crew: guitarist David Grissom, bassist Glenn Fukunaga, drummer J.J. Johnson and pedal steel player Ricky Ray Jackson. “Waterline” probably fits under the broad Americana umbrella, but this feels like pop music at its core, with electric instrumentation prominent in the arrangements. Release show Sept. 29 at Saxon Pub. Here’s the video for the title track: